INSIDE:
Festival Dancers Artistic
Director Harriet Bug, talking
to IRP members about "Dance
in Detroit-Past, Present and
Future" on March 9 at the
JCC in Oak Park.
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
W
hen Ed Chalom sold his businesses and retired 10 years
ago at the relatively young age of 57, he figured he really
had to take on a lot of activities to keep busy. So he
joined the Institute for Retired Professionals (IRP) and
hasn't slowed down since.
Hundreds of others like Chalom, who are retired or semi-retired, are
doing the same thing. They discovered that IRP is a perfect outlet for
their learning needs and social activities.
For Chalom, and more than 300 IRP members like him, the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit's IRP is like a small com-
munity college, a mini-synagogue, a social haven and, probably most
importantly, a home away from home.
Chalom, single and a resident of Beverly Hills, spent 30 years as a
businessman and still teaches some business courses over the Internet
for Davenport University But that's just a sideline compared to the
diversified activities he handles and is involved in for the IRE.
He's a facilitator for the Art of Money Management course, mainly
an investment group; he facilitates Conversational Hebrew; he sings in
the choir, and gets involved in general shmooze sessions with members.
They argue about politics, tell jokes, solve each other's "Dear Abby"-
type problems, and sing informally when they feel like it.
Besides IRP, Chalom gives Spanish lessons independently, leads a
great books discussion group and even teaches tennis at a private club.
"The Institute of Retired Professionals carries the top priority among
all of the things I do," he said. "I try to lead a busy life, with no ten-
sions."
The IRP Alternative
Learning and
"We offer a unique opportunity for people to participate in stimulating
discussions and activities and form lasting friendships," said Gloria
Ellis, IRP director. She heads the IRP's main office at the JCC's Oak
Park building. Irving Ritter is assistant director and Sandy Cohen is
secretary. Sydelle Isaacs, program assistant, is based at the JCC in West
Bloomfield.
IRP was formed in 1985, after a senior citizen called the JCC want-
ing to participate in a current events group. A story ran in the Jewish
News seeking people with similar interests who also might want to par-
shmoozing is a way
of life at the JCC's
Institute for Retired
Professionals.
3/23
2001
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